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34 750 Hungarian Proverbs PDF
34 750 Hungarian Proverbs PDF
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Htrbb az agarakkal!
Backwards with the greyhounds.
Be more modest!
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gyval l verebekre.
He shoots at sparrows with a high calibre gun.
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Felkavarta az llvizet.
- Kvet dobott az llvzbe.
He has stirred up (or threw a stone into) still water.
He brought motion in a quiet life.
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A bagoly is br barlangjban.
Even an owl is a judge in her cave.
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Ks bnat ebgondolat.
A late repentance is a dogs idea.
(After death the doctor.)
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Btrak a szerencse.
Luck belongs to the brave.
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Lenyeli a bkt.
He swallows the frog.
He swallows the bitter pill.
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56.
Jobb a bkessg.
Peace is better.
It is better to refrain from quarrels/contradictions or raising/forcing an argument.
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Beletrt a bicskja.
His (pocket)-knife was broken in it.
He tried but failed in a achieving something.
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Magyarzza a bizonytvnyt.
He explains away his report.
He tries hard to explain or justify his action or behaviour.
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Bocskorbr az orcja.
(Vastag br van a kpn.)
There is thick sandal leather on his face.
He is bluntly shameless.
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Borotvalen tncol.
He dances on a razor-edge.
He tries to face danger from two/more sides.
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91.
Felfel bukott.
He stumbled upwards.
After failing in a job he was moved to higher position.
C
92.
A cl szentesti az eszkzt.
The purpose consecrates the means.
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Elstk a csatabrdot.
They have buried the hatchet.
D
113. Darzsfszekbe nyl.
He puts his hand into a wasps nest.
114. Elklten a Drius kincst is.
He would spend even the treasures of Darius.
115. Te sem vagy jobb a Dekn vsznnl.
Even you are not better than the linen of Deaks wife.
You are as bad as the others.
116. Jn mg kutyra dr.
The hoar-frost is still to come for the dog.
Be sure your sins will find you out!
117. Hrom napig dnomdnom, holtig val sznom bnom.
A three day long merry-making and regret lasting till death.
A hasty marriage.
118. A di trve, az asszony verve j.
A nut is good if broken, a woman if beaten.
119. Hallgat, mint a sket diszn a bzban.
He keeps silent, like a deaf pig in the wheat-field.
120. hes diszn makkal lmodik.
A hungry pig dreams of acorns.
121. Okos diszn mly gykeret rnt.
A clever pig extracts a deep root.
A clever man achieves remarkable feats.
122. Disznra gymbrt ne vesztegess.
Do not waste your ginger on pigs.
123. Nem erszak a diszntor.
Nobody is forced to attend the dinner given after killing a pig.
You are free to refrain from accepting an offer I consider favourable to/for you.
124. Dobbal nem lehet verebet fogni.
Sparrows cannot be caught by beating a drum.
125. Aki dolgozik, az nem r r pnzt keresni.
He who works has no time to earn money.
If a job is hard and little paid, then one cannot earn additionally in a second job.
126. Aki nem dolgozik, ne is egyk.
He that does not work, shall not eat either.
127. Drton rngat valakit.
To pull somebody by a wire.
(To pull the strings.)
128. Kt duds egy csrdban nem fr meg.
Two pipers cannot get on in one tavern.
E.
131. Nehezen alkuszik meg kt eb egy csonton.
Two dogs can hardly agree on one bone.
132. Az ebek harmincadjra kerl/jutott.
It fell to the thirtieth of dogs.
Although it is valuable nobody cares for it any more.
133. Fogas ebnek val a csontrgs.
Gnawing on bones is for dogs having teeth.
134. Ha egy ebet bottal hajtanak a nyl utn, nem fogja az meg.
If a dog is driven by a stick after a hare, he will not catch it.
135. Kti az ebet a karhoz.
He ties the dog to the post.
He sticks to his position/plan/idea.
136. Ebcsont beforr.
A dogs broken bone will soon be healed.
The wound inflicted will soon be healed.
137. g s fld a klnbsg (kztk).
The difference between them is like that between sky and earth.
138. Mint derlt gbl a villmcsaps.
Like a thunderstroke from a clear sky.
139. Az egszsg zt a betegsg adja meg.
The flavour of health is given by an illness.
140. Szegny az eklzsia, maga harangoz a pap.
The congregation is poor, the priest rings the bell himself.
141. Elefnt a porcelnboltban.
An elephant in the china shop.
142. Nem azrt lnk, hogy egynk, hanem azrt esznk, hogy ljnk.
We do not live to eat, but we eat to live.
143. Ki elbzza magt, knnyen megszgyenl.
He who is conceited, will easily be ashamed.
144. Se el ne hidd/bzd magad, se ktsgbe ne essl.
Neither be conceited, nor fall into despair.
145. Akkor/gy szp az let, ha zajlik.
Life is beautiful if it is hectic.
146. Az ellensgemnek se kvnom.
I do not want it even for my enemy.
147. Aki nincs ellennk, az velnk van.
He who is not against us, that is with us.
F
169. Amilyen a fa, olyan a gymlcse.
Like tree, like fruit.
170. Nagy fba vgta a fejszjt.
He cut his axe into a big tree.
(A hard venture.)
171. Fbl vaskarika.
An iron ring made of wood.
An absurdity.
172. Kemny fbl faragtk.
He was carved of hard wood.
He is strong/steadfast.
173. J fnak is van rossz gymlcse.
Even a good tree has (sometimes) bad fruit.
174. A ft nem vgjk ki egy csapsra/vgsra.
A tree is not felled at one stroke.
175. Addig hajtsd a ft, mg vessz.
Bend the tree while it is a twig.
176. Maga alatt vgja a ft.
He cuts the tree under himself.
177. Rossz ft tett a tzre.
He has put bad wood on the fire.
(He has got into mischief.)
178. Nem ltja a ftl az erdt.
He cannot see the wood for the trees.
179. Nem nnek a fk az gig.
The trees do not grow up to the sky.
180. A faknak muszj hzni, mert a fakt is hzzk.
(Akitl az elljri megkvetelnek valamit, az is knytelen kvetelni a beosztottaitl.)
The horse has to pull as the horse is also pulled.
He who gets orders from his superiors, has to pass them on to his subordinates.
181. A falnak is fle van.
Even the wall has an ear.
182. A farkas a szrt elhnyja, de a szokst nem.
The wolf may change its hair but not its nature.
(The wolf may lose his teeth, but never his nature/memory.)*
183. Farkast emlegetnek, a kert alatt kullog/jr.
When a wolf is mentioned, he is already walking round the garden.
*
Ptolva Paczolay Gyula: European Proverbs in 55 Languages with Equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit,
Chinese and Japanese. (Veszprem, 1997.) knyve alapjn.
G
213. Senkinek sem repl szjba a slt galamb.
A roast pigeon will not fly into ones mouth.
214. Ahol sok a gazda, bolond a szolga.
Where there are many masters the servant becomes mad.
215. Az okos gazda a krt is jra fordtja.
A clever master turns even a loss into a gain.
216. Gazda nlkl csinlja a szmtst.
He reckons without his host.
217. Gazda szeme hizlalja a jszgot.
The masters eye makes the animals fat.
218. Elkapta a gpszj.
He was snatched by the belt.
He could not resist the temptation of well-being in return for yielding from strict moral
standards.
219. Mssal kapartatja ki a gesztenyt a tzbl/parzsbl.
He makes someone else get he chestnut from the fire (glowing embers).
220. A gombhoz varrja a kabtot.
He sews the jacket to the button.
Something is made after having a negligible part of if only.
221. Gzsba ktve tncol.
He danced bound hand and foot.
He tries hard but has very little freedom of movement or action.
GY
222. Gyakorlat teszi a mestert.
Practice makes the master.
223. Gyva npnek nincs hazja.
Coward people have no country (of their own).
224. Gyermek, rszeg, bolond mondjk az igazat.
A child, a drunkard and a fool tell the truth.
225. Meghalt a gyermek, oda a komasg.
The child is dead the godfathership has ended.
226. Kisgyerek - kis gond, nagy gyerek - nagy gond.
Small child - small trouble, big child - big trouble.
227. Nem kell a gyereket a frdvzzel kinteni.
One need not throw out the child with the bath-water.
228. Nma gyereknek az anyja sem rti a szavt.
Even the mother cannot understand the words of a dumb child.
229. Tiltott gymlcs desebb.
Forbidden fruit is sweeter.
H
230. Nincs a hadban semmi Pter btya.
Szolglatban a rokonsg/ismeretsg nem szmt.
In the army there is no Uncle Peter.
231. Hossz haj, rvid sz.
Long hair, short wit.
232. A sllyed hajt elhagyjk a patknyok.
Rats desert a sinking ship.
233. Egy hajban eveznek.
They are rowing in the same ship.
(They are in then same boat.)
234. A nagy hal megeszi a kis halat.
The big fish eats the little fish.
235. Fejtl bzlik a hal.
Fish stinks from the head on.
236. Hall ellen nincs orvossg.
There is no medicine against death.
237. J volna hallnak.
He would be good for death.
He always arrives late.
238. Sokat hallj, lss, keveset szlj.
Hear and see much, say little.
239. Amirl hallgatunk, az nincs is.
What we keep silence about, does not exist.
240. A hallgats beleegyezs.
Silence (means) consent.
241. Nem lesz belle nekes halott.
There will be no funeral with songs out of this/it.
This effort will end in failure.
242. gy kellett/hinyzott ez, mint ablakos/veges ttnak a hanyattess.
It was needed as a Slovak glazier needed falling on his back.
A most unwanted event.
243. A harag rossz tancsad.
Anger is a bad counsellor.
244. A mai haragod halaszd holnapra.
Postpone todays anger till tomorrow.
245. Nem zrg a haraszt, ha nem fj a szl.
The dry leaves do not rustle if no wind blows.
(No smoke without fire.)
I
277. Az id eljr, senkire nem vr.
Time passes, it waits for nobody.
278. Az id pnz.
Time is money.
279. Aki idt nyer, letet nyer.
He who gains time, gains life.
280. Mindennek megvan a maga ideje.
Everything has its time.
281. Mondj/szlj igazat, betrik a fejed.
Tell the truth and your head will be broken.
282. Borban az igazsg.
In wine there is truth.
283. Az igazsgot nem lehet vka al rejteni.
Truth cannot be hid under a bushel.
284. Aki sokat gr, keveset ad.
He who promises much, gives (but) little.
285. Az gret szp sz, ha megtartjk gy j.
A promise is a nice word, if kept, then it is all right.
286. gretekkel tele a padls.
Elegem van az gretekbl.
The garret is full of promises.
I am fed up with promises.
287. Ami tged nem illet, ne trd azon a fejedet.
Make no headache (for yourself) of what is not your business.
288. Csak az imdsg tartja benne a lelket.
The soul is retained in it only by the prayer.
It is close to its end/destruction.
289. Akinek nem inge, ne vegye magra.
If it is not ones shirt, one should not put it on.
If a critical remark does not concern somebody, then it should be disregarded.
290. Ingednek se higgy.
Do not trust even your own shirt.
291. Ha nincs red s szelencd, mirt teszed magad borblly?
Nem vllalkozhatunk valamire, ha a hozz szksgesekkel nem rendelkeznk.
Having no ointment and box why do you pose as hairdresser?
Do not undertake something you are not equipped for.
292. Jobb szz irigy, mint egy szn.
Youd better have one hundred who envy you than one who is sorry for you.
293. Akinek az Isten hivatalt ad, szt is ad (vagy szt nem ad) hozz.
To whom God gives an office, adds also (or does not add) senses to it.
294. Akinek Isten valamit ad, ember el nem veheti.
What was given by God to one, cannot be taken away by man.
295. Az Isten/Krisztus urunk is kitrt a rszeg ember ell.
Even God/Christ our Lord has given way to a drunken man.
296. Az Isten se tehet mindennek eleget.
Even God cannot satisfy everyone.
297. Az Isten sem siet, sem ksik.
God neither hurries, nor is late.
298. Felvitte az Isten a dolgt.
God has taken him to a high position.
He got into well-being or a high position.
299. Isten malmai lassan rlnek, de biztosan.
The mills of God grind slowly, but surely.
300. Isten nem ver bottal.
God does not beat one with a stick.
301. Megfogta az Isten lbt.
He has caught the leg of God.
His actions have led him into a very favourable position.
302. Nem ismer se Istent, se embert.
He respects neither God, nor man.
303. Segts magadon, az Isten is megsegt.
Help yourself and the God will also help you.
304. Olyan hossz, mint a Szent Ivn neke.
It is long as the songs of St. Johns day. (Midsummer days song.)
305. zlsek s pofonok klnbzk.
Tastes and slaps are different.
(Tastes differ.)
J
306. A jg htn is megl.
He can live even on flat ice.
(He can get money in desert.)
307. A j elnyeri mlt bntetst.
He who is good, gets his deserved punishment.
A good deed often does not get its due reward or is even followed by punishment by
those who dislike it.
308. Minden j, ha a vge j.
All is well if the end is well.
309. Mindentt j, de legjobb otthon.
It is good everywhere, but it is the best at home.
310. Minden jban van valami rossz.
In every good thing there is something bad.
311. Jbl is megrt a sok.
Even of a good thing too much is harmful.
312. Amit jkedvvel teszel, nem esik nehezedre.
Anything done willingly is not hard/difficult to do.
313. Minden gy van jl, ahogy van.
Everything is good as it is.
314. Ne csak tudd a jt, hanem tedd is.
You should not only know what is right but also do it.
315. Jtett helybe jt ne vrj.
Do not expect good in return for a good deed.
316. Jtett helybe jt vrj.
Expect good in return for a good deed.
317. Ha jttk, lesztek, ha hoztok, esztek.
If you come, you will be (here), if you bring (food), you will eat.
318. Jjjn, aminek jnni kell.
Let it come, whatever must come.
I can/will not do anything to influence the course of events.
319. Amit szabad Jupiternek, nem szabad azt az krnek.
What Jove may do, the ox may not.
K
320. Kabtgye van - Kabtgybe keveredett.
He has (or is involved in) a coat-affair.
A man whose coat was stolen was told to be involved in a coat-stealing affair.
321. A kder nem vsz el, csak talakul.
A cadre will not be lost, only transformed.
A cadre who failed in a position, will not be sacked, only transferred to another similar
post.
(A standard practice in the past.)
322. A kkn is csomt keres.
He seeks a knot even on the (bal)rush.
323. Minden kakas r a maga szemtdombjn.
Every cock is master upon his own dunghill.
324. Nem lehet mindent egy kalap al venni.
One cannot put everything under one that.
One cannot consider things/ideas identical/equal which are in fact different.
325. Kinek milyen kalapja van, olyannal kszn.
Everyone greets others with a hat he has got.
326. res kalsz fenn tartja a fejt.
An empty ear (of corn) holds its head upright.
327. res kamrnak bolond a gazdasszonya.
An empty pantry has a fool housewife.
328. Megfojtan egy kanl vzben.
He would drown him in a spoonful of water.
329. Minden lben kanl.
He is a spoon in all liquids.
(He has a finger in every pie.)
330. Egy kaptafra hz mindent.
He draws everything to one (to the same) last.
331. Nincs az a kr, mely valakinek ne hasznlna.
There is no loss, which is not a gain for somebody.
332. Fekete karcsony, fehr hsvt.
Black Christmas white Easter.
333. Ha rvid a kardod, toldd meg egy lpssel.
If your sword is short, add one step to it.
A missing part may be substituted sometimes by something else, e.g. skill.
334. Kt les kard/tr nem fr meg egy hvelyben.
Two sharp swords/daggers cannot be is one sheath.
335. Megy, mint a karikacsaps.
It goes like cuts of a whip.
(It goes like clockwork.)
L
411. Bal lbbal kelt fel.
He got out of the bed with the left leg.
(To get out of the bed on the wrong side.)
412. Nehz lncban tncot jrni.
Its hard to dance in chains.
413. Lnyomnak mondom, menyem rtsen belle.
I tell my daughter, my daughter-in-law should understand it.
414. Rtesz mg egy lapttal.
He adds one more shovelful of it. (It was bad but his action made it even worse.)
415. Lassan jrj, tovbb rsz.
Go slowly, you get farther.
416. A ltszat csal.
Appearance cheats.
417. Legny a gton.
A lad on the dam.
He is not frightened/deterred by difficulties.
418. Nem az a legny, aki ti, hanem aki llja.
The smart lad is not him who beats, but he who endures it.
419. Lgvrakat pt.
He builds castles in the air.
420. Kt legyet t egy csapsra.
He kills two flies with one flap.
421. Mindent lehet, csak akarni kell.
One can do anything, only will is needed.
422. Nincs lehetetlensg, csak tehetetlensg.
There is no impossibility, only unwillingness/incapacity.
423. Csak hlni jr bele a llek.
His soul comes to him only to sleep there.
He is in very bad health.
424. Lesz, ami lesz.
It will be what will be.
(Be as be may.)
425. Htra van mg a feketeleves.
The black soup is still ahead.
The worst is still to come.
426. Tbbe kerl a leves, mint a hs.
The soup costs more than the meat.
The production of something costs more than the value of the product.
LY
443. Addig dugd be a lyukat, mg kicsi.
Stop up the hole until its small.
444. Az egyik lyukat a msikkal tmi/dugja be.
He fills one hole with another.
He pays one debt from another loan.
445. Lyukat beszl a hasba valakinek.
He talks a hole into the belly of somebody.
(He talks ones head off.)
M
446. Amit ma megtehetsz, ne halaszd holnapra.
Do not put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
447. Ma nekem, holnap neked.
Today to me, tomorrow to you.
448. A macska is szereti a halat, de kerli a vizet.
The cat also likes fish but keeps away from water.
449. Alamuszi macska nagyot ugrik.
A sly cat makes a big jump.
450. Ha nincs otthon a macska, tncolnak/cincognak az egerek.
If the cats away, the mice will dance/squeak.
451. Kerlgeti, mint macska a forr kst.
He goes around it like a cat goes around hot mush.
452. gy jtszik vele, mint macska az egrrel.
He plays with somebody as a cat plays with a mouse.
453. Csnya madr, amelyik a sajt fszkbe piszkt.
It is an ugly bird that defiles its own nest.
454. Madarat tollrl, embert bartjrl.
A bird is recognised by her feathers, a man by his friend.
455. Ha kell, menj magad, ha nem kell, kldj mst.
If you want something, go yourself, if not, send somebody else.
456. Magad uram, ha szolgd nincs.
Do it yourself sir, if you have not servant.
457. Mindenki magbl indul ki.
In judging others, the point of departure is always himself.
458. Aki magasra hg, nagyot esik.
He who climbs high, has a great fall.
459. Olyan messze van tle, mint Mak Jeruzslemtl.
They are as far apart as Mak (in Hungary) is from Jerusalem.
460. Hol malacot grnek, ott zskkal forgoldjl.
Where pig is proffered, go round with a sack.
461. Kt malomban rlnek.
They grind in two mills.
They speak of different things.
462. Valakinek a malmra hajtja a vizet.
He drives the water to the mill of somebody.
By his action - unintentionally - he plays into the hands of somebody.
463. Kt malomk kzt rldik.
He is ground between two millstones.
He tries to satisfy two incompatible requirements.
N
492. Aki a nd kztt l, olyan spot csinl, amilyet akar.
He who is sitting in the reeds, makes a whistle of his choice.
493. ssze kell hzni a nadrgszjat.
One has to tighten the belt.
494. Minden nagynak kicsi a kezdete.
Anything big is small at the beginning.
495. Nincs j a nap alatt.
Nothing is new under the sun.
496. Tbb nap, mint kolbsz.
There are more days than sausages.
One has to save for the times ahead.
497. Nyugtval dicsrd a napot.
Praise the day (only) at sunset.
498. A ngylb is botlik.
Even a quadruped stumbles.
499. Nem enged a negyvennyolcbl.
He does not yield from the 48.
500. Nemakarsnak nygs a vge.
Unwillingness ends in groaning.
Unwillingness must lead to failure.
501. A knny is nehz a nemakarnak.
Even something light is heavy for the unwilling.
502. A np szava Isten szava.
The voice of the people is the voice of God.
503. Gyva npnek nincs hazja.
Coward people have no homeland.
504. Az nevet igazn/legjobban, aki utoljra nevet.
He laughs really/best who laughs last.
505. Ahol nincs, ott ne keress.
Do not look for something, where it isnt.
506. Ami nincs, abbl nem lehet baj.
What does not exist, cannot cause any trouble.
It is better to do nothing.
507. Aki nyron nem gyjt, tlen keveset ft.
He who does not collect in summer, will heat little in winter.
508. Egy fenkkel/seggel kt nyerget nem lehet meglni.
One cannot sit in two saddles having one arse/bottom only.
O
514. Ms krn tanul az okos.
Wise men learn by others harm.
515. Az okosabb enged.
The wiser gives in.
516. Olajat nt a tzre.
He pours oil on the fire.
517. Annyian/Olyan sokan vannak, mint az oroszok.
They are as many as the Russians.
(There are too many of them.)
518. Vgn csattan az ostor.
The whip cracks at the end.
The punishment comes at the end.
or The end tries all.
519. Az kr csak kr, ha Bcsbe hajtjk is.
A ox remains an ox even if driven to Vienna.
(Send a fool to the market (far, to France) and a fool he will return again.)
520. Knny tizenkt kr utn eltolni egy szekeret.
It is easy to push a cart drawn by twelve oxen.
521. krt a szarvn, embert a szavn lehet megfogni.
An ox can be taken by his horn, a man by his word.
522. Szomjas krnek a zavaros vz is j.
For a thirsty ox dirty water will do as well.
523. ndicsret bds.
Self-praise stinks.
524. Az rdg nem alszik.
The devil does not sleep.
525. Az rdg vigyen el!
Let the devil take you!
526. Fl tle, mint rdg a szenteltvztl/tmjntl.
He is afraid of it, as the devil fears holy water (or incense).
527. Nem olyan fekete az rdg, mint amilyennek festik.
The devil is not so black as he is painted.
528. Veri az rdg a felesgt.
The devil is beating his wife.
If it rains when the sun is shining then it is told that
529. Ha rdggel lakol, rdgg kell lenned.
Living with a devil, you have to turn a devil.
530. Add az rdgnek kisujjadat, egszen elkap.
Give the devil your little finger, you will be taken entirely.
531. Az rdgnek is kell olykor gyertyt gyjtani.
Sometimes one has to light a candle for the devil too.
532. Tartozott az rdgnek egy ttal.
He owed the devil a journey.
He made a journey in vain.
533. J, csak az rdgk rosszak, hogy el nem viszik.
He is good, only the devils are bad, for not carrying him away.
534. Nem j az rdgt a falra festeni.
It is not good to paint the devil on the wall (as he will appear).
535. J az reg a hznl.
It is good to have an old man at home.
536. Nincsen rm rm nlkl.
There is no joy without sorrow.
P
537. Otthagyta, mint Szent Pl az olhokat.
He was left behind like the Wallachians by St. Paul.
He was left behind unexpectedly.
538. A j pap holtig tanul.
A good priest learns until his death.
539. A pap se beszl/prdikl ktszer.
Not even the priest will speak/preach twice.
540. Kinek a pap, kinek a papn (nekem a lnya).
One likes the priest, someone else his wife (I prefer his daughter).
541. A papr trelmes.
Paper is patient.
542. Nem minden/mindig papsajt.
It is not all/always mallow.
(Life is not all beer and skittles.)
543. Vereked psztorok kzt j dolga van a farkasnak.
If the shepherds fight each other, the wolf has a good time.
544. Hosszabb a pntek, mint a szombat.
Friday is longer than Saturday.
The underskirt is longer than the skirt.
545. Kis pnz, kis foci.
Little money - little football.
If little money is paid, then only little work can be expected.
546. Pnz beszl, kutya ugat.
Money talks, although the dog may bark.
547. Rossz pnz nem vsz el.
Bad money is never lost.
(A bad penny always turns up.)
548. A pnznek nincs szaga.
Money has no smell.
549. Ismerik, mint a rossz pnzt.
He is well known as bad money.
550. gy kerlt bele, mint Piltus a krdba.
He got into this affair like Pilate into the Credo (i. e. by mere chance).
551. A pokol orszgtja is j szndkkal van kikvezve.
Even the highway leading to Hell is paved with good intentions.
552. Elszabadult a pokol.
Hell has been broken loose.
553. Pokolban is esik egyszer egy nnep.
There is a feast once even in Hell.
R
560. Rend a lelke mindennek.
Order is the soul of everything.
561. Rendnek muszj lenni.
There must be order.
562. A rest ktszer frad.
A lazy man works twice.
563. A retek reggel mreg, dlben tek, este orvossg.
Radish is poison in the morning, food at noon and medicine in the evening.
564. Amit nyer a rven, elveszti a vmon.
What he gains at the toll, loses at the customs.
565. Alv rka nem fog nyulat/csirkt.
A sleeping fox catches no hare/chicken.
566. Egy rkrl kt brt nem lehet lehzni.
One cannot strip two hides from one fox.
567. Minden t Rmba vezet.
All roads lead to Rome.
568. Knnyebb rontani, mint pteni.
It is easier to destroy than to build.
569. Rossz a rosszal, de rosszabb a rossz nlkl.
It is bad with the bad (i. e. the wife), but it is worse without the bad.
570. Minl rosszabb, annl jobb.
The worse it is (in one respect), the better (in another respect).
571. Nincsen rzsa tvis nlkl.
No rose without a thorn.
572. Nem a ruha teszi az embert.
Clothes do not make the man.
573. Ruha teszi az embert.
Clothes make the man.
S
574. Megllja a sarat.
He stands the mud.
He comes up to mark. - He stands the test.
575. Felszedi a storfjt.
He dismounts the tent-poles.
He makes off.
576. Ha begygyul is a seb, megmarad a helye.
Even if the wound is healed, the scar of it remains.
577. Knny sebet ejteni, de nehz gygytani.
It is easy to inflict a wound, but difficult to heal it.
578. A semminl a kevs is tbbet r.
Even a little is more than nothing.
579. Nesze semmi, fogd meg jl.
Here is nothing, hold it tight.
Somebody was given much less than expected.
580. Semmibl nem lesz semmi.
Out of nothing there will be nothing.
581. j sepr jl seper.
A new broom sweeps well.
582. Aki siet, elksik.
He that hurries will be late.
583. Simon br hajtja a lovat.
Headman Simon drives the horse.
The woman rules the house.
584. Fl lbbal a srban van.
He has already one foot in the grave.
585. Megfordul/Forog a srjban.
He turns/spins in his grave.
586. Sblvnny vltozott.
He became in idol of salt.
(A pillar of salt.)
587. gy mg sohasem volt, hogy valahogy ne lett volna.
It has never been so, that it wouldnt have been anyhow.
588. Mehet a shivatalba.
He may go to the salt-office.
His case will not be heard anywhere.
589. Ki sokba kap, keveset vgez.
He who begins many things, finished but few.
SZ
599. A szabadsg drgbb az aranynl.
Liberty is dearer than gold.
600. Nincs szably kivtel nlkl.
There is no rule without exception.
601. Akkora a szja, mint a Bcsi kapu.
His mouth is as big as the Vienna Gate (in Buda).
602. Ne szlj szm, nem fj fejem!
Dont speak my mouth, I shall have no headache.
603. Sok szakcs elszza a levest (az telt).
Many cooks put too much salt in the soup/food.
604. Szlka valakinek a szemben.
It is a splinter in the eye of somebody.
(A thorn in the flesh.)
605. Adj a ttnak szllst, kiver a hzbl.
Give lodgement to a Slovak and you will be beaten out of your home.
606. A fuldokl ember a szalmaszlhoz is kap.
A drowning man catches even at a stalk of straw.
607. Egy szalmaszlat sem tesz keresztbe.
He does not put crosswise even one stalk of straw.
He is utterly lazy/disinterested in this matter.
608. ll, mint szamr a hegyen.
He stands there like a donkey on the hill.
He is idle/undecided what to do.
609. Eltnt, mint szrke szamr a kdben.
He disappeared like a grey donkey in the fog.
610. Szamrbgs/Ebugats nem hallatszik a mennybe/az gbe.
Braying of an ass (or barking of a dog), is not heard in Heaven.
611. Nem kell keverni a szart (mert mg bdsebb lesz).
One should not stir the shit (as it will be even more stinking).
612. Csrg a szarka, vendg jn.
The magpie rattles, a guest will come.
613. Sokat akar a szarka, de nem brja a farka.
The magpie wants too much, but her tail is unable to carry it.
He overestimates his power/capacity/strength.
614. Eltallta szarva kzt a tgyt.
He has hit the udder between the horns.
He has made a bad mistake.
T
666. Addig nyjtzz, ameddig a takard r.
Stretch yourself as far as your cover reaches.
667. Tl, kanl nem lehet csrdletlen.
Dish and spoon cannot be without jingling.
It is natural to have some disagreement between man and wife.
668. Lefel tapos s felfel hajlong.
He treads downwards [on his subordinates] and bows upwards [before his superiors].
669. Sttben minden tehn fekete.
All cows are black in the dark.
670. A nagy teher is knny, ha sokan emelik.
Even a heavy burden is light if lifted by many.
671. Korn megltszik, mely tejbl lesz j tr.
It will soon show which milk will yield a good curd.
A childs character and abilities become evident soon.
672. Nem fenkig tejfl.
It is not all sour cream down to the bottom.
It is not all as good as it seems to be.
(Not all beer and skittles.)
673. Szegny, mint a templom egere.
He is as poor as a church mouse.
674. A tnyek makacs dolgok.
Facts are stubborn things.
675. Tvedni emberi dolog.
To err is human.
676. Ami tid, tedd el, a mst ne vedd el.
Take what is yours, [but] not that of others.
677. Tanulj tin, kr lesz belled.
Learn steer, you will turn an ox.
Keep studying hard, so that you may get on in life.
678. A tisztasg fl egszsg.
Cleanliness is half-health.
679. Egyik tizenkilenc, a msik egy hjn hsz.
One of them is nineteen, the other is one less than twenty.
They are equally bad.
680. Idegen tollakkal keskedik.
He boasts with foreign feathers.
681. A nagy tolvaj leszakad, de a kicsi felakad.
The great thief escapes (the gallow), the small one hangs.
682. Jobb a torkt metszette volna meg a bba, mikor kldkt metszette meg.
The midwife should have cut his throat rather than his navel.
683. Azt se tudja tk-e vagy trs tek.
(Azt se tudja, eszik-e vagy isszk.)
He does not even know whether it is a pumpkin or a curd-cake.
He has no idea about it.
684. Olyan, mintha tkre hnynl bojtorjnt.
(Borst hny a falra.)
It is like throwing bur on a gourd.
A vain effort.
685. Szl a tlgyet lednti, de a nddal nem br.
The wind fells the oak, but cannot cope with the reed.
686. Bedobta a trlkzt.
He threw in the towel.
(He gave up the effort.)
687. Trfbl is lehet igazat mondani.
Truth may be told in a joke too.
688. A tuds hatalom.
Knowledge is power.
689. A trelem rzst terem.
Patience brings roses.
(All things come to those who wait.)
690. Kt tz kztt van.
He is between two fires.
691. Aki kzel van a tzhz, az jobban melegszik.
He who is close to the fire, will get warm best.
692. A tzzel nem j jtszani.
It is not good to play with the fire.
693. Tzolt munkt vgez.
He is doing a firemans work.
He is compelled to do something quickly, without proper preparation and
consideration.
TY
694. Amelyik tyk sokat kotkodcsol, keveset tojik.
A hen that cackles much lays only a few eggs.
695. Annyit rt hozz, mint tyk az bchez.
He knows as much about it as a hen does about the alphabet.
696. Az igazsgot a tyk is kikaparja.
Truth is scraped out even by a hen.
697. Vak tyk is tall szemet.
Even a blind hen can find a grain.
698. Nem tart egy tykmonysltig (tojssltig).
It will not last longer than frying an egg.
U
699. Mma egy ujjal, holnap tz krmmel.
Today (it is enough to do it) by one finger, tomorrow (it will be necessary) by ten nails.
700. Az ujjunk sem egyforma.
Even our fingers are not equal.
701. Aki urval prl, Isten annak orvosa.
Rgen rossz annak, aki feljebbvaljval vitba szll.
God is the doctor of the man who quarrels with his master.
702. Az r a pokolban is r.
A master is a master in hell as well.
703. Urak krse parancsolat.
A masters request is a command.
704. Nem j nagy urakkal egy tlbl cseresznyzni.
It is not good to eat cherries from the same dish with persons of high rank.
705. Nem lehet (Nehz) kt rnak szolglni.
One cannot (It is difficult to) serve two masters.
706. Adj Uramisten, de rgtn!
Give me, my Lord, but do it immediately.
An urgent request.
707. Fel is t, le is t.
There is a way upwards and downwards too.
Leave immediately.
708. Legjobb az egyenes t.
The straight (i. e. honest) road is the best.
709. Jrt utat a jratlanrt el ne hagyd!
Dont leave the betrodden way for the untrodden one.
710. Megjrta a damaszkuszi utat.
He has passed the road to Damascus.
He has changed his conviction or allegiance.
711. Zld utat kap.
He gets green way.
(He gets green light.)
V
712. Ebl szerzett vagyon ebl vsz el.
Property gained unlawfully will be lost in the same way.
713. Akinek vaj van a fejn, ne menjen a napra.
He who has butter on his head, should not go to the sun.
714. Vak vezet vilgtalant.
A blind leads a sightless.
715. A vakok kzt flszem a kirly.
Among the blind the one-eyed is the king.
716. Jobb valami, mint semmi.
Something is better than nothing.
717. Valamit valamirt.
Something for something.
(Tit for tat.)
718. Hadd morogjon Varga Pl, csak j sarut varrjon.
Let the cobbler Paul grumble, he should only make good sandals.
719. Varga, ne tovbb a kaptafnl.
Cobbler, do not go beyond the last.
720. Aki varjat akar lni, nem pengeti jt.
He who wants to shoot at a crow, will not pluck his bow.
721. Ezer varj ellen elg egy k.
Against a thousand crows one stone is enough.
722. Lttam n mr karn varjt.
I have already seen a crow on a pole.
I do not believe this boasting/exaggeration/menace.
723. Varj a varjnak nem vgja ki a szemt.
A crow does not pick out the crows eye.
724. Addig sd a vasat, mg meleg.
Strike the iron while it is warm.
725. Kt/Tbb vasat tart a tzben.
He keeps two/several irons in the fire.
726. Kettn ll a vsr.
The agreement depends on two persons.
727. A knnyebb vgt fogja a dolognak.
He seizes the lighter end of the matter.
728. Nem rejti vka al a vlemnyt.
He does not hide his opinion under a bushel.
Z, ZS
748. A zavarosban halszik.
He fishes in troubled waters.
749. Megtallta zsk a foltjt.
The sack has found its patch.
People of the same similar ideas have found each other.
750. Zskbamacskt rul/vesz.
He sells/buys a cat in a poke.